Court extends injunction preventing legal action against Gotabaya

Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal on Wednesday extended the injunction preventing any legal action against the former defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). The Court had previously issued a stay order preventing action under the Public Property Act until December 6. The order has now been extended until December 15.

Sri Lankan govt body rejects Right to Information request on blocking of news website

A Sri Lankan government body has rejected a Right to Information request questioning why a news website was blocked in Sri Lanka. Access to London-based news website lankaenews.com, which had been critical of the Sri Lankan government, was blocked from Sri Lanka last month. Tamil-language media organisation Maattram submitted a Right to Information request asking whether the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka had indeed blocked access to the website and if so, why it had been blocked. The regulatory commission responded this week with a denial of the request, saying the...

NPC criticises military administration of preschools

Military-run preschools in the Vanni should be brought under the control of the Northern Provincial Council, council members have said. Sri Lankan military forces continue to interfere in Tamil civilian life through the Civil Security Department, Emmanuel Arnold, NPC member for Kilinochchi said. Teachers at CSD preschools are forced to undergo military training, Mr Arnold said, perpetuating the militarisation of the Tamil homeland. NPC members criticised the encroachment of the CSD in areas of the council's authority and said that all educational establishments should fall under NPC...

Only 2 Tamil nurses in latest batch of 110 to serve Northern Province

Only two Tamil nurses were appointed to serve the Northern Province in the latest batch of appointments. Out of 110 nurses appointed to the Northern Province by the Sri Lankan government, 108 were Sinhalese nurses. When questioned about the hugely disproportionate rates of Sinhalese nurses being appointed to serve a Tamil province, the Northern Province health minister said that there were not enough trained Tamil nurses to appoint.

Tamil asylum seekers remanded by Sri Lankan court

Photograph: Sunday Times A Sri Lankan court in Puttalam has remanded a group of asylum seekers who attempted to flee the island last month.

US and Sri Lanka sign amendment to Open Skies Agreement

The United States and Sri Lanka agreed an amendment to a 2002 Open Skies Agreement this week, which will see the movement of cargo goods carried out “more efficiently and profitably,” according the US Embassy in Colombo.

Mannar fishermen released on bail amid protest by residents

Twenty-five Mannar fishermen who were detained by the Sri Lankan navy on Monday, were released on bail today after residents protested against their arrest. The men were initially detained at the navy camp prompting angry protests by residents from Thalvupadu who said the community was frequently harassed and intimidated by navy personnel. The tense situation led to local police taking custody of the men. See more here .

UK reiterates commitment to working with OHCHR

Photograph @UKMissionGeneva Meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday, the UK FCO Minister for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad reiterated the UK's commitment to working with Mr Zeid's office, the OHCHR. The UK Mission in Geneva tweeted: "Lord @tariqahmadbt meets @UNHumanRights High Commissioner #Zeid to discuss a range of topics related to @UN_HRC. The UK remains firmly committed to #OHCHR, and the #HumanRights rules-based international system."

NPC members commemorate first anniversary of Jayalalithaa's death

Members of the Northern Provincial Council on Tuesday commemorated the first anniversary of the death of the Tamil Nadu chief minister, J Jayalalithaa.

Chinese jobs fair to be held in Colombo

A jobs fair for 15 Chinese enterprises, organised by the Chinese chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka together with the ministry of skills development and vocational training, will be held in Colombo on Friday, Xinhua reported. The fair would aim to provide over 400 job opportunities within the 15 Chinese enterprises, the Director of Teaching Affairs at the vocational training centre, Gao Bin told the state owned news agency. "Ties between China and Sri Lanka have strengthened over the years and as many Chinese companies are now present here. There is an opportunity for locals to find employment...

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